Mein Krieg (Youjo Senki/Tanya the Evil OC)
- Thread starter Trunko
- Start date
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- Tags
- youjo senki
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Nah, they are not a worthy prize.
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
The Emperor decided to grace him, so if Tanya did attempt something, she could risk being reprimanded.
Of course, there's always the chance of him ending up in 'an accident'...
Chapter 211 – The Devil's Winter
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Chapter 211 – The Devil's Winter
"This is Oberstleutnant Frederick König, recon check. Tragen, do you have visual contact on us?"
"Huh, give me a second, sir." Tragen's voice came from the radio, as I peeked from the small porthole toward the other civilian-designed transport airplanes that were following ours. "Visual confirmed, sir. All the men are in good condition, if a little tired due to the long flight. I reckon that if we had been able to fly on our own, we would have arrived earlier."
"Let me remind you that the purpose of our relocation by air force is precisely to conceal our presence and prevent the Federation from knowing that the Empire's two elite magic units are being deployed close to the border."
"Let them come forward if they dare!" Tragen retorted with new courage. "I'll face those bastards, and I'll keep sending them to hell until my arms ache with exhaustion!"
"Say, is that real patriotism I hear, or did Viktoriya put those ideas in your head?"
"Sir!" Tragen retorted in a tone of embarrassment, and I regretted not being able to see the blush on his face. "My relationship with Serebryakov is not impairing my judgment!"
"I don't doubt it at all." I replied with a laugh. "In any case, maintain eye contact until further notice. I don't trust the Federation not to suspect a common transport of food and gasoline supplies."
"Roger that, Oberstleutnant."
I ended the conversation as a glance passed over the mages who were traveling with me in the small space made behind the supplies headed for the frontier. Jacob was poorly covering himself with a blanket, trying to warm himself; Reiner was rubbing his hands and blowing, regretting not having had the same idea. Elsie... was sitting in a corner, her eyes closed, almost oblivious to what was going on around her. Could it be that she was not cold?
"Elsie, are you okay?"
"Everything okay, Major. I meant to say, Oberstleutnant!" She said, correcting herself for the involuntary mistake. "I was just... trying to focus my magical energy through meditation. With proper practice and concentration, I can train my magical power continuously, as you taught me."
"Such a technique is for strengthening one's magical potential in times of proven need. Aren't you getting unnecessarily tired?"
"No, sir!" She replied, with a flicker of magical energy in her eyes. "No matter how much energy it may cost me, as long as I can increase my magical power, and consequently, my fighting potential, nothing is useless."
"Elsie, it's me, Frederick!" I hissed at her, trying to be careful that no one else could hear my words. "We grew up together at the orphanage, together with REiner, Jacob and Tanya, remember? Please stop acting like a holy soldier-you're starting to rile up the troop, and me too!"
"I apologize." She replied, summing up an attitude more appropriate to her biological age. Tanya and I at least had an excuse for serious posturing: we were not children, inside.
"Never mind, let's be ready anyway. The orders from Strategic Headquarters are very categorical…"
(…)
"As much as the situation between the Empire and the Federation had already been close to breaking point for a long time," Zettour said, summing up in a single sentence the diplomatic crisis that had been burning between our nations for months now, "it now appears that the Federation is preparing for the much-feared attack against us. Our intelligence sources report that every day, new Federation troops are being moved along the border with the Empire, hidden in camouflaged barracks inside fake barns or warehouses. To conceal their movements, the Federation moves its soldiers at night, but some observation planes flying at night have confirmed the extent of the situation."
"How many troops are we talking about, sir?"
"More than three million soldiers in the first wave of attack, and more to follow." Said the general, and some officers on the opposite side of the table seemed to tremble at the news. "We estimate that in total, the Federation will be able to have more than six million soldiers, compared to the three million that the Empire currently deploys, between front-line soldiers and reserves."
"They will crush us."
"Yes, if we try to defend every inch of our territory." the general said, responding to the sentence that lieutenant had let slip. "And that is why, the strategy of Strategic Headquarters is to sacrifice space to capture and destroy as many enemy units as possible."
"However inferior in numbers," the other general nodded, showing documents with figures and numbers printed on them, "the Imperial units deployed along the eastern front boast a higher level of mechanization than those of the enemy, a greater number of motorized and armored vehicles, as well as a greater ability to coordinate their efforts. We also have a larger and more modern air force, as well as better mage units." He turned a glance toward Tanya and me. "Taking advantage of these strengths of ours, Strategic Headquarters has set up a three-phase plan, codenamed Manfred. The first phase of the operation, Siegfried, will begin as soon as the Federation attacks the Empire: front-line units are to engage and, if possible, repel the first enemy attacks and allow time for civilians to evacuate risky areas, and then fall back to a large series of secondary lines of defense or predetermined strongholds. Control of these fortifications will allow us to divide and weaken the enemy offensive and damage their coordination, also allowing our air force to strike the nerve centers of command and communication and reducing the Federation troops to a horde of numerous but strategy-less brutes. At the same time, the second phase of the operation, Fafnir, will allow us to replenish the imbalance by exploiting our mobility to launch numerous encirclement and destruction operations. Taking advantage of the aforementioned damage to the enemy's command and communication capabilities, our units from the defense lines or in the strongholds will attack the enemies with the aim of capturing or killing as many enemy soldiers as possible, while limiting our losses."
"Our mages are ready to provide all necessary support, Generals!" Said Tanya, eager to demonstrate her skill and expertise to make up for the snub. "What our role will be."
"Actually, both the 203rd and 205th Battalions will not be employed in such an operation." Said Zettour. "To you, the Empire entrusts its most ambitious and highest-potential mission: to cut off the head of the snake, devastate the morale of the Federation, destroy the enemy's mostimportant industries and military apparatuses, and vibrate a most severe blow to their chain of command, depriving them of their leadership."
"The mission you will take charge of is known by the code name Operation Valkyrie: you and your men will be transferred to a small uninhabited center, at a safe distance from the border and close to the border with our new client state of Dakia. There, at the same time we are arranging to transfer, as quickly and secretly as possible, the V1 rockets that already in due course enabled the total destruction of the Republic Headquarters. At the appropriate time, you will travel to Ob'ston, a small mining center on the outskirts of the Federation capital, and from there you will approach the nerve center of the enemy. Your targets, in addition to the political and military command headquarters, are some of the Federation's major heavy industries concentrated there, the destruction of which will severely slow down the war effort of our enemies, and many major communication routes. This will not be an easy undertaking. unlike Dakia, the enemy has not neglected the defenses of its capital."
"What kind of resistance can we expect, if I may ask?" I said, guardedly.
"Magical forces." one of their attendees replied, as I felt bitterness spreading all over my body. I had a feeling the next snippet of informations would not be something I would have liked.
And like most of the cases, I wasn't disappointed.
According to the information we have on the defences of the Federation capital, the enemy has deployed an entire mage unit, under the command of their best magic officer: the Super-Commissioner of the People of the Federation and Major of the Federal Magic Aviation, Chernakova Anfisa Aleksandryvna..."
My mouth contracted into a grimace upon hearing that name, as the face of a person I detested appeared in my mind. I still remembered our first meeting in Dakia, when she and her mages had come to meet us to inform us that the Dakian territory on which we stood had been ceded to the Federation a few hours earlier, turning the charges of trespassing against us and demanding not only that we leave, but that we hand over the Dakian princess we had so painstakingly captured. His face, the way he spoke, how he behaved with his subordinates... Even now, I almost had the impression that someone had decided to make a bad copy of Tanya.
"How many units are we talking about?" Tanya asked, psychologically preparing herself for battle.
"Originally one battalion, but they seem to have received substantial reinforcements thanks in part to the support of the NKVD commander, Loria." Both Tanya and I felt a cold shiver run down our spines when the General mentioned the pederast. I had almost managed to forget about him. "Currently, the aerial mage garrison of the enemy capitol has personnel totaling almost two battalions, and it can quickly bring in reinforcements from other garrisons thanks to its excellent alarm communication system. This means that should you decide to engage the garrison, destroying the enemy's communication systems is a top priority... if you do not feel you are willing or able to deal with enemy reinforcements."
"My men have no fear or hesitation!" Tanya stated quietly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "No matter how many mages the Federation may deploy against us, they are no match for our mages."
"I agree with Oberstleutnant Degurechaff." I added. "The overabundance of enemies does not frighten us. On the contrary, I see this as an excellent opportunity to destroy or permanently damage as many hostile mages as possible, whom the Federation might otherwise redeploy against us in other battles or military operations. In short, an opportunity to be seized to make the blow against the enemy capital even more decisive."
"I agree wholeheartedly." the other general smiled, his eyes full of approval. "Destroying the enemy's command and communication centers is not enough. We must cause a wound deep enough to debilitate their offensive and defensive capabilities forever!"
"Bloodlust must not make us lose sight of our main objectives. "Zettour replied, and in his calm voice the words sounded almost like a warning. "And let me remind you that, however endearingly, an excess of cruelty could destroy the sympathies the Empire is currently enjoying abroad, both in the Allied Kingdom and in the Unified States. the Empire is a soldier nation, but there are many who are afraid of its blade."
"I beg your pardon, sir." I nodded, lowering my head slightly, before continuing. "As a matter of fact, perhaps I have some information that might be useful in this regard: during our stay in the Allied Kingdom, I had the opportunity to meet a Federation mage who served right under Chernakova, and who was willing to provide valuable information about her and the enemy power..."
"A traitor?!" Some officers said stunned, almost offended by the definition. "We cannot trust a traitor, especially one from the Federation!"
"Frederick, what are you talking about?!" Tanya said, roaring almost. I knew she would be angry, but it was the price of showing the card I was about to play.
"I have good reason to have confidence in your words, General. First, this mage who has shown himself willing to help us is called Alexei Serebryakov, mage first class of the Federal Mage Corps, descendant of a rich and powerful noble family that the Revolution drove out... and a relative of a mage of our very own 203rd Battalion, Viktoryia Serebryakov."
Tanya's eyes grew even bigger, so much so that for a moment I seriously feared they would burst out of their sockets. And all around us, the reactions of the other officers, the two generals included, were not much different.
"Serebryakov?!"
"The Duke's family? I knew some members were still alive, but..."
"A former noble, an Imperial mage?"
"It seemed so, and that may be proof that Providence is smiling on the Empire once again. For this reason, I may now be allowed to share with you some information that I think will surely get your attention…"
(…)
"Oberstleutnant was very angry at you after that meeting, was she?" Elsie asked almost with a teasing tone. "Tragen covered my ears, but I got the impression she used all the swear words that are actually in use in the Empire. By the Emperor's will, she may have come up with new ones as well."
"She did." I replied, shuttering as I remembered Tanay's angry glares focused on me, the veins on her forehead almost going to blow, all traces of cuteness disappearing as she cussed me out again and again from the moment she found out that Viktoriya was actually descended from a family of nobles that were exiled from the Federation when the Revolution against their Emperor undermined their authority, and that during our time in Londinium, we ended up meeting a close relative of hers that was forced to serve under the Federaton's banner, and that he willingly choose to help us in exchange for a chance to reunite with the rest of his family.
Still, I didn't regret that. The expression she made when her brain finally registeredthe thought that I had secretly used Viktoriya's family ties not only to develop my own secret agents in the enemy's own magical corps, but to also build up my own plans to bring as many Federation mages to our side... Oh, how I wished to have a modern camera to forever immortalize that moment.
"I suppose I should offer you my most sincere condolences, sir." Elsie retorted, her lips twitching as I realized she was struggling not to chuckle. Even if a part of me wanted to punish her for that, I decided that letting her not to realize I had noticed that was a better option. Moreover, I had better ways to punish people, without actually using a reason to punish them formally.
"You don't have to." I replied, struggling myself to keep a friendly appearance. "Besides-"
The plane shook, any mage who wasn't sitting down or holding tightly on something else falling down, Elsie barely managing to stop her fall with her hand and put down both hands to keep me from falling to the floor, before focusing my inner magic to help get me back on my own feet.
"W-what was that?" Another mage shouted, almost protesting the unexpected event. Instinctively, I looked outside, as I was that the climate around our planes was changing, the clouds becoming darker as I realized we were heading toward a thunderstorm.
"Looks like we're getting closer to the Federation's territory." I acidly commented, wondering if this was an early warning of the other kinds of 'surprises' we would meet. There was a say among Federation soldiers, that every enemy that dared to invade them, would face two enemies at once. One was the Federation's Army, the other being General Winter, whose strong snowstorms and merciless cold were able to devour whole armies. It did already many times in my previous life: many times enemy generals fathered huge armies and lead them into the deep of Russian (the Federation's equivalent of our world) territory, only for them to be decimated until only an handful of the soldiers managed to return home. Maybe, it was also for this reason that among the Empire's top generals, no one was quite enthusiast at the idea of taking offense, at least in the immediate future.
Yet, since it would Tanya and me that would have to strike their capital with a powerful attack, as soon as hostilities began between our nations, that wasn't a pleasant thought. How many chances were that Being X would send its worst tempest in the same, exact time we would had to carry out our mission? Considering how spiteful our enemy could be…
"Sir!" Tragen voice played once again in my earpiece, forcing me to reply.
"Yes, what's going on? Are the men ok?"
"So far? Yes, but there's been much nervosism for what had just happened. A couple of soldiers are worried for the dark clouds that are approaching us. Do you have any… words that could help calm them?"
"Tragen, we are mages!" I groaned, wondering if they had suddenly got hit by a sudden amnesia. "We can fly even if the planes go down, under our own magical power. And we already flew in even worse missions with worse climate! Do you remember when we destroyed the Entente's guns on the Orse fjord? This is nothing in comparison!"
"I know, sir. Yet… we have a couple of recruits that weren't with us at Orse. Do you have suggestions for them?"
"Tell them to enjoy the ride at best as they can, because this is nothing but a taste of what we have forward." I replied, as I heard someone mutter the words 'initiation ceremony' in the background, "And tell them to be proud of this moment, for they are now officially part of the 205th Mage Battalion. We are the elites of the Empire, we fight the hardest battles in the name of the Emperor. We burned Dakia to the ground, we gutted the Entente, we stabbed our blade in the very heart of the Republic. The Federation will soon fall to us, and then… the whole world will!"
"Jawohl, my commander!" Tragen enthusiastically nodded.
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Hello, you beautiful people.
Sorry to say this, but I am currently suffering with constant burnouts due to too many works I am writing at the same time. Would that be a problem if I put this fic on hold, while I try to recharge and heal?
This is something I wanted to avoid, but I fear about losing quality work due to overworking and stress.
Sorry to say this, but I am currently suffering with constant burnouts due to too many works I am writing at the same time. Would that be a problem if I put this fic on hold, while I try to recharge and heal?
This is something I wanted to avoid, but I fear about losing quality work due to overworking and stress.
- Location
- USA
Take as much time off as you need. Burnout kills stories more surely that any hiatus. Go forth and relax my dude.
Chapter 212 – Ensnare
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Chapter 212 – Ensnare
"Welcome to Camp Henry, Oberstleutnant König!" The Lieutenant, a short, stocky little man with a conspicuous scar on his left cheek welcomed us. "I am Lieutenant Edgar Menke, veteran of the Northern Front. It is a great honor to meet you in person, sir!"
At least our fellow soldiers in uniform still know how to respect the ranks. I thought approvingly. "The 203rd Battalion should be arriving soon. I hope the base is roomy enough."
"Don't worry, Oberstleutnant. We have already taken the necessary precautions to expand the base but without risking compromising security. To conceal our operations, we have expanded the rooms underground and have camouflaged both the radio tower and the anti-aircraft artillery pieces. We also reinforced the armor of the shelter to the point where it was as strong as a bunker. Even if the Federation were to discover it, they would never be able to damage it... unless they decided to send in their own mage units."
"What about our launch stations? Have we heard from our V1s?"
"The military convoy left Berun last night, Major, and is now proceeding along secondary railroads to avoid treacherous attacks or sabotage. They will arrive here in a week, in time to be equipped and resupplied and thus be able to be used for our mission."
"Hopefully. Judging from the new reports we are receiving by radio, we don't have much time before the Federation attacks."
"We are aware of that, Oberstleutnant." The lieutenant looked to the side for a moment, a shadow of concern on his face. "If I could I would have already evacuated the villages along the border, or at least warned them. It seems to me a cruelty not to tell them anything, now that the shadow of war is looming over the Empire again."
"Morally, I agree with you. But Strategic Headquarters has given clear directives: we must prevent the Federation from learning of our strategy, and evacuating civilians from areas at risk but not in the public domain would risk alerting the enemy that there are possible military targets of high interest in this area. Well-hidden or not, I am not anxious to put our disguises to the test."
"I agree, sir. At least I hope those people will have the time and opportunity to get to safety once the war starts."
"Sir!" Tragen interjected, trying to get my attention. "We are receiving a communiqué from some units of the new Dakian army. It seems they are deploying infantry and artillery units further south from our position."
"The Dakians are our allies now, Tragen." I reminded him. "An Imperial Prince, a relative of the Emperor himself, now sits on the throne of Dakia and wears its crown as sovereign. The supporters of the Grand Duke's family have been defeated and scattered, those who have survived have fled or are silent, lest they end up in prison. A new army, no longer those clumsy, strategyless soldiers we annihilated, serves the nation, an army armed and trained by the Empire precisely so that it can be used alongside the Empire and against its enemies. Have you forgotten that, Tragen?"
"No, sir!" He retorted, immediately defensive, "It's just that... it seems a short time since we fought Dakia and burned its capital. Do you really think we can trust them? They attacked the Empire to claim as their own territories that are legitimately the Emperor's domain!"
"And in an attempt to escape catastrophe, they had to surrender more of their nation's territories to the Federation in exchange for military aid, which they never received, however." I added, with an evil smile. "The Empire was their enemy in the past, but the Federation betrayed them. And they all hated a cowardly traitor who stabs you in the back more than a ruthless but honest enemy who faces you head-on."
"I… understand, Commander."
"Try to explain it to others as well." I said, turning back to the lieutenant. "Can we trust them?"
I wasn't lying to Tragen earlier, mind you: we had good reasons to trust our new allies, and Strategic Headquarters had basically said we had to trust then, at least until we had concrete reasons not to trust them anymore. Still, as the saying goes: trust is good, but not trusting is better.
"Theoretically, yes, sir. However, I will make sure to instruct the garrison to keep their eyes open, and to set up light artillery pieces around the perimeter of the base, just in case."
"Good. Keep your eyes open: that's the best strategy for survival."
"Frederick! A voice called out, and another battalion worth of veteran, battle-hardened mages, led by a girl whose innocent looks and eyes were subverted by the utter vileness of her actions and emotions, landed just behind us.
"Yes, Oberstleutnant Degurechaff?" I turned around, rolling my eyes as I realized Tanya was pissed off and angry… again. "Is there something that require my attention?"
"You know exactly what is going on!" She yelled. "Lieutenant, can you show us our supposed office for the next days? I think me and my fellow Oberstleutnant requires to have a talk… alone."
"Oh, we have to update the betting pool!" Some snickered from behind me, my eyes widening as I heard that. No, please, not that again…
"I guess this is quite a nice perk of serve on this unit: you can watch one of the most rumored love story blossoms under your eyes." What? No! Tanya and I are not-
"I wonder how long it will be before they get a wedding. Surely, being of such age is a limiter, don't you think?" I would rather threw away my uniform and become a religious hermit for the rest of my existence, begging for forgiveness to Being X, rather than do something like marry Tanya!
"Let's move." I said, ignoring the glances everyone was giving us as Tanya grabbed my arm and pushed me away, almost looking forward whatever accusations she would throw at me…
(…)
"Look, Tanya: I know you're still angry-"
"Angry? Angry?! " She shouted, looking at me with eyes filled with poisons. "Angry doesn't even begin to cover how I am feeling right now! The fact that you ignored all my previous warnings and once again tried to keep me in the dark of your plays is enough, but… to involve Viktoriya, my subordinate, in this?!"
"Hey, you did knew her family were refuges from the Federation, and that she may still have relatives living in there. Plus, I assume you already knew that she was of a well-being family: didn't you even suspect that your loyal, cheerful and cute subordinate was actually the heir and descendant of a Duke family, who before ethe revolution was second only to the ruler of the land?"
"I… I had reasons to suspect that." Tanya admitted, looking aside. Was that real, or she was just trying to hide her own ignorance? I guessed the former, for Yanya had already proven to know what happened around her… as long as she bothered to look. "Anyway, that doesn't excuse you using her to develop a bond with a Federation mage-"
"That Federation mage is called Alexei," I replied, looking back at her with a steel-hard expression. "and he's Viktoriya cousin. He was enlisted in the Federation's mage corps only because he didn't had many other life choices, and he is still trying to look after the part of her family who didn't mage to escape when the Federation took over. I doubt Viktoriya would have ever liked the idea of having to fight and kill her own blood, so I offered him a chance, an option to get out of that place and help us at the same time."
"So, you turned him into a rat? And tell me, what kind of information are you trying to get out of him?"
"For one, I asked him to help me localize and put together all the available mages currently serving under the Federation's banner, mages whose political attachment to the Federation is weak enough, and who would rather serve again under the banner of their former royal family."
Tanya turned around, the anger on her face replaced by shock, and then by surprise, as I allowed a smug smile to blossom onto my lips. "You… what?"
"I also met Admiral Kolčakyv." I revealed, taking time to savor Tanya's expression before continuing, "You know, the leader of the Russy White Army? I proposed him a strategic alliance between him and the Empire, in the event of war with the Federation. And this little black operation will allow them to have, beside an army and a charismatic leader to lead them, even an Aerial Mage that will fight side by side with the Empire's elites, that is, us."
"You… you met with Admiral Kolčakyv?"
"I was opted out of the negotiations early, for obvious reasons, and the Ambassador and other men of HQ took over for me, but Viktorya assisted me on our very first meeting." I chose to disclose those details with her, making sure not to reveal anything too much important or that she could use against me, "I am sorry for not telling you, but having someone from their own common birthland and who could understand their language was a powerful icebreaker that allowed me to quickly gain his sympathy."
"And what kind of conditions…did he ask for?"
"I can't say these will be in the final agreement, for as I said, the negotiation are still undergoing with other people." I said, "However, when we met, he said he wanted something from the Empire, to prove our willingness to consider them and his people as true allies."
"And what did he ask?"
"To bring back their lost heir to the Throne."
Tanya almost jumped back in surprise, a small glitter of magic energy fuzzing in her hands, her jaw falling open, her eyes widening yet again, for a second leaving me seriously worried she had forgotten how to breathe. By the Emperor, she can do that Pikachu meme image!
"Their…what?"
"You want to know how that happened?" I asked, almost rhetorically. "Short story: when I went and met Kolčakyv for the very first time, he told me that he wanted for a sign of the Empire's good faith before finalizing our alliance, and told me the main issue the anti-communist forces currently face is not lack of foreign support or the inability to properly hold military power against the Federation's own army, but rather, the lack of a central figurehead around which they can rally, a survivor of their formal royal family. And when I tried to argument the Tsar and all of his family had been executed when the Federats took power, he revealed to me one of the last children of the Empress had been kept far away from the capital and thus, survived the dramatic ordeals of those days."
"You mean… we actually have a heir to their throne? A real princess Anastasia?"
"You've seen the movie, huh?" I joked, before going back to my serious self, "Yeah. According from the info the Admiral passed to me, she managed to escape thanks to the help of the maid who she was entrusted to and is now living a peaceful life as a commoner, to keep the Federation's spies from ever finding out about her existence."
"And Viktoriya… knew about this?"
"She received an order not to tell anyone who couldn't keep the secret, just like me." I admitted, "The only reason why I'm telling this now is because I think you're trustworthy enough to keep this for yourself, and because by now the secrecy is no more a priority. The operation is already underway."
"Operation? You mean-"
"The Empire was putting together a team of their best spies and infiltrators, just before we got involved in that prank with the fake general." I told her, my lips grimacing once again as I could still remember the shame and humiliation I had suffered when the newspaper printed the news of two elite officers following the order of a nobody just because he was wearing an Empire's uniform. "If we're lucky, they are already on the way to find the lucky girl to tell her that she is the last heir of one of the most powerful royal families of Europe."
"And then what? Will our politicians offer her the throne once the Federation is gone? She's an uneducated child, for crying loud! She's not suited to lead a whole nation, let alone a nation that suffered under a brutal dictatorship for many years!"
"That's the point!" I replied, for once happy to be able to show I wasn't second to her in my cunning, "Indubitably, the Admiral and every other big shots of the counterrevolution forces will try to sway her and use her as a puppet. Meanwhile, the Empire itself can benefit by replacing a government hostile to us with one more friendly, one that we can actively influence especially thanks to the Admiral's request of finding a suitable partner for their future Empress."
"Partner?!"
"Yeah, I had the exact same reaction when I realized the Admiral was already playing matchmaker with his sovereign's love life before she even got to know her life would change forever." I nodded. "I don't even know if the Minister of the Interior is actually looking for a suitable marriage partner that can become the new Czar Consort while make sure the Empire would never again have enemies to its eastern border, but I think the new Duchess would surely help us stay informed."
"The new Duchess?!" Tanya yelled once more. "That's not a duchess, that's my subordinate!"
"So, should she be offered high society rank her lineage is owed, alongside all the lands and titles that had been ripped from them when the people rose against them, after being manipulated by a few conspirators who called for liberty while planning to make tyrant of themselves, you would stop that?"
"I-I'm not totally against it." she replied, looking aside with a thoughtful, scheming expression. Yup, there it is... Tanya's exceptional ability to use any kind of situations and event to her own advantage making quick calculations on how being the former commander of an Empire mage turned former-Federation noblewoman could become advantageous to her. I didn't interrupt her thinking, nor I had any plans to do so: after all…
…Viktoriya had to become Duchess in order for Tragen to become a noble as well, when they would get married.
(…)
"-The Federation officially recalled the remaining members of their Berun embassy today, while on the border between the Empire and the Federation, on this morning, new civilians escaping from the Federation tried to cross the Imperial lines, before getting captured and detained by fast-intervention mobile Imperial forces. Last night, the Federation's police captured three people who were accused of spreading counter-revolutionary propaganda, and who admitted to being paid by the Empire to destabilize the Federation's rule in their western regions and break the trust of the people in their glorious revolution. The Prime Minister had replied-"
"Wow, it looks like it's time." One of the mages grimly commented,."Bet fifty marks the Federation attacks us by the end of the week."
"It sems like our esteemed 'Utopia of Socialism' has grown tired of stay within their borders and are now ready to try and export their culture in the rest of Europe."
"Godless criminals!" Viktoryia said, an uncharacteristic anger dawning over her face, "Aren't they satisfied with the sufferance they have brought already? Do they want to bring all other free people of the continent under their grip?"
"Serebryakov, please, calm down." I said, looking at her as I tried to pull my 'harsh, but charitable' commander façade. "I understand the emotions you're experiencing right now; I really do." I shivered, as the disgusting face of Loria reappeared in my mind. "But letting yourself being controlled by them is not the right path. We are soldiers of the Empire: The Emperor and Strategic Headquarters are already planning the fall of the Federation, and do not want to risk being portrayed as the aggressors with a preventive attack, no matter how blatant the Federation's aggression is going to be. Remember the scope of our mission: as soon as the Federation's assault is stopped, we will punish their arrogance and make them pay back for any blood they had spilled with interest!"
"Indeed!" Tragen nodded, clenching his fist with a cold, angry glare, a part of me remembering why I decided to keep him at my side for all this time,."We will find those animals, and when we will face them… I'll send every mage attacking us to Hell!"
"Like your commanding officer said." Tanya jerked up. "Don't let your emotions to cloud your vision. After all… revenge is a dish best served cold."
"Sir, we have received new communications from Strategic HQ!" One of the men stationed at our radio communication center said, starting to report immediately. "The first one is a communication starting that both the Allied Kingdom and the Unified States, in private, had informed their Empire embassies they're not going to support the Federation with any economical or diplomatic support. Looks like those capitalists are more afraid of the commies than they are of us."
"Of course, that's how they like to reason." I replied. "What else?"
"Ildoa has contacted the Imperial government and offered to organize an expeditionary force to support our forces, should our politicians accept it. And the last message… I can't really say. It's for you, Oberstleutnant, but there is just a sentence. I don't know, maybe it's a message in code, or alternatively-"
"Let me see!" I replied, snatching the paper from his hands and starting to read it, Tanya moving to my side to see as well. There was just one sentence, that's true, but the message, written in Cirillic, was clear to me.
Нашел ее.
"Found her." Tanya translated, smiling evilly.
I grinned as well.
Last edited:
- Location
- canada
I have no idea what that means, or whether or not the word should even be there.
I think that should be 'issue'.
A nice and exciting chapter all around to pave the way for imminent action. Let the flames of revolution burn brightly!
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Anyastasya Nikolayna Sneguročka Zakharovna – The girl that would be Czarina
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Anyastasya Nikolayna Sneguročka Zakharovna – The girl that would be Czarina
"That'll be ten francs, Anya."
"Here you got, Mr. Mettler." the girl with dark black hair smiled, taking the coins out of her small purse, and passing them to the shop owner, who immediately began to check them. "Is there something wrong?"
"I'm just being careful, kid." The old, gentle man, looking at every coin. "Lately, there are had been a lot of refuges from the Republic, ever since the Empire won, and we have been flooded with Francois francs and people who still mistake it for the old currency."
"And it's an issue?" The girl raised an eyebrow, failing to grasp the problem.
"Indeed: their money is worthless now! Didn't you hear the news? The new government issued a decree that the old currency will be replaced with newly printed money, and the old ones must be handed over to be replaced."
"Actually, I didn't know." The girl admitted with an embarrassed expression. "I had my studies to focus on, and I don't like to waste money of my scholarship in newspapers. You know that I'm not interested in politics."
"Blessed are the meek, dear. My father always taught me, that if you don't get interested in politics, politics will get interested in you."
"Come on, Mr. Mettler. We live in the Confederacy, the strongest bastion of neutrality for more than a hundred years, and our politicians are interested to keep it this way!"
"Let's hope so…" Mr. Metter grumbled once again, as Anya made her way out of his shop and started to walk down the road, toward the small apartment she had on lease. As she kept walking, her grocery backpack on her shoulders, she barely repressed a shrub of annoyance as she realized that everyone's focus was aimed at the one argument she was sick of already.
Herrgott! the girl thought as she passed a small group of men talking excitedly, one of them holding a newspaper in his hands. War, war, war. This war talk is spoiling all the nice perks of this place. You can't go buy groceries or have a talk around without hearing it! I am so bored with war talk now that I could scream!
"-The Federation is unwilling to step back, war is the only outcome that may become of this situation!" an old man with a long bears said, raising his cane. "I'll say, this conflict is long overdue."
"But is the Empire that much better?" A younger man, barely a boy who had just grown out of puberty, replied. "I hear some rumors the Empire is a cruel, totalitarian regime where civilian rights are granted only to those who were willing to serve in their army. Wouldn't it be better if the Federation vanquished them?"
"You fool!" A third boy, same age of him, shouted. "No matter how bad the Empire might be, the Federation is worse! And without the Empire to stop them, they wouldn't be content with ruling only half of Europe: they would keep marching until all of Europe up to the sea will be under their chains. And that would include us, too! Tell me, can you imagine how living in a nation where everyone is watching everyone else, where you can be detained and executed for what you think, would be?"
"I- I admit I never did-"
"Well, you should go and talk with Mrs. Bukova, who lives in the big house at the end of the road." The first man nodded, walking forward and patting his hand on the youngling's shoulder, like a grandfather giving his foolish nephew a valuable lesson. "She used to live there, before the Revolution forced her to leave. And she's always ready to tell people what she had to witness."
Anya rolled her eyes, as she kept walking. She knew Mrs. Bukova, even if only from afar. She was an old, rich woman who liked to spend the most of her days enjoying the warm kiss of the sun and by painting landscapes of the amazing sight she could see from her chalet, and who the people who used to work for her rumored to be a former noble who ran from the Federation when the revolution took her noble title and tried to execute her. There was also rumor that, of the people coming in and out of the town every year, at least a couple were spies of the Federation who were checking on her whereabouts. She didn't know if such rumors had reason to be true, and yet, that was a fact that often made her wary every time she walked too close to that house, or she met someone who was clearly a foreigner.
After all, Mrs. Bukova wasn't the only refugee from the Federation.
Finally, the girl smiled as she saw her house in front of her. Silently, the girl walked in front of the concierge, greeted the landlord with a friendly smile and a wave of her hand and walked over the stairs, finally reaching the door of the small apartment where she lived, at least for the time being.
"I'm home!" Anya said, almost automatically. "Edelweiss, you hungry?"
"The cat's still out. It ran off when we arrived-" A deep male voice responded to her, the girl stopping in her tracks as soon as she heard it. "I guess it didn't like our faces."
A sudden slam behind informed the girl that her only retreat had been cut out, as a man with a large trench coat kept her door closed, while three other men looked at her, one of them (the one that apparently was their boss) sitting on her bad.
"Who-who are you?" Anya gasped, her mind desperately trying to come up with a plan to rescue herself. She knew that cry for help wouldn't do anything good: even if someone would hear her and come to her rescue, she could see every one of these men was armed.
"We're the one asking the questions here-"
"Heinrich, calm down!" The leader reprimanded his subordinate, before focusing again on her. "Are you Anyastasya Tobler, student at the Wilhem Tell Middle School in Basten?"
"People call me Anya." The girl replied, moving aside as she tried to get close enough to her writing desk and find something that she could use as throwaway weapon. She knew it was a desperate plan, especially with her being alone against four grow-up men, but it was better than allow herself to be killed without resistance.
"And this… is it yours?" The man grabbed something from inside his pocket, revealing it to be a small pendant with an engraved letter on it.
"My pendant!" The girl hissed, the fear she was experiencing barely containing he ranger. "Keep your filthy hands off it! That's-"
"The only item left of your birth parents, I guess?" The man stopped for a second, looking at the girl's widening eyes before continuing. "We know. The letter H, in Cyrillic, is pronounced N. The woman who took care of you and raised you was called Olga, was she? She wrote in her letter about the pendant, and you."
"Are you spies of the Federation?" Anya guessed, "But then, why are you after me and not Mrs. Bukova? What do you have in interest about me?"
"We are not here to kill you, if that's what you're wondering." The man smiled at her. "And neither do we plan to capture you. We are here to confirm your identity, that you already allowed us to do, as well to protect you for the time being."
"Protect me?!" The girl yelled again, her voice now louder. "For what reason?!"
"Everything will be known when time is due, miss." The man nodded, "For now, I can only tell you that your life is going to change. Forever…"
"Not planning to capture me…" Anya bitterly commented, looking around at the room where she had been brought, the men who got in her apartment as well as several mores, everyone armed, surveyed every possible entrance. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
"That wasn't a lie." The man (Hermann, as he had introduced himself) said. "These men are not here to keep you in here, but to protect you. As you have already guessed, the Federation spies would be quite interested into offing your life."
"But why?! You keep repeating me that this is for my own security, yet, from the very first moment I meet you, I feel like I am a prisoner, and you keep repeating me that the Federation would kill me if they knew about me. Why? Is this about my birth parents? Were they people the Federation wanted to be dead?"
"That's… an understatement." Another voice, an older one, said, as Anya turned around to see a man in a white uniform with many medals, sword, and handgun on his side, showing glasses and moustaches, walked inside the room, every man kneeling slightly as he came into view. Yet, the late arrival ignored all of them, and instead focused on her, his old, gentle eyes focusing on the girls' face and lineaments.
"I-I assume you're the boss of these persons." Anya murmured, her eyes moving form the many medals and decorations the man had on his uniform, to the sword and handgun he carried around. Did that mean that this man was a high-rank officer? For what nation? And how big her chances of escaping would be if she tried to steal his gun?
"Technically, I'm their ally." The man replied, giving them an aside glance. "But you're right in assuming the reason for your presence here is tied to your ancestral roots. In fact, one would say that your own existence feels like's a God's blessing."
"I haven't felt many blessings at all my whole life. Every day since my old caretaker passed away, I had to work diligently in order to create my own opportunities and to build my future!"
"Dear child, your future is already going to be more glorious and marvelous that you could ever dream of." the man smiled, her hand passing over her cheek as a lone tear of happiness ran down his face. "You've become so beautiful, your highness. If only your parents could see you now-"
"Wait, you knew them?!" Anya gasped, her anger dissipating as she started to realize what was going on. "And why are you calling me 'your highness'? Even if they were nobles, that's a title that's usually reserved-"
"-for members of the royal family of a nation, I know." The man nodded, kneeling as well. "My name is Grand Admiral Kolčakyv, Leader of the Russy Liberation Forces and Prime Minister pro tempore of the Imperial Duma, faithful servant of the late Czar and his family. And yours is Anyastasya Nikolayna Sneguročka Zakharovna, last child of his Majesty and the Empress, who was personally sent far away from her own mother a little before that damned revolution ended up destroying every trace of order and justice in our nation."
Hearing such words, Anya felt her own head starting to spin, barely managing to keep her control long enough to let herself fall in one of the chairs. When she was a little girl, she used to love to read stories about princes and princess who lived in great palaces and lived a luxurious life, distant from the problems of the world, but… to be told that you were part of it?
A part of her wanted to believe it was just a prank, but she quickly realized no prank could have warranted such changes in her life. Rather, the actions the men that 'kidnapped' her could now see under a new light.
"What?" Was the most she could say, as she lied down, trying to calm down her heart.
"The pendant that you had with you," the Admiral continued, showing her the same object that she had treasured for so many years. "it comes from the treasury of the Imperial Family, and according to the letter I've read, it was given by the Empress herself to one of her handmaidens, named Olga Aryemna, who I can guess had been your caretaker for most part of your infancy."
"She-she never told me her full name."
"I guess she accepted to renegade her own roots, to protect you. In hindsight, I could understand her own reason: if the Federation ever got reason to think a member of the royal family had survived-"
"A member of the royal family?" Anya repeated, as she realized he was talking about her. "You mean-"
"Your highness," the Admiral said once more, his eyes filled with heartwarming joy. "your blood makes you the last surviving child of the late Czar, the last member of the House of Nikolayna, the King and Emperor of Russy. From the moment the Federats massacred every other member of the royal family, you're the presumptive heir to the throne, and our next Czarina."
Anya felt her own head starting to spin yet again, the only things she could remember before losing consciousness being the alarmed words of the admiral, as he called for a doctor…
"I'm… still worried about wearing this dress." Anya said, checking herself in the mirror as she watches the clothes she now had to wear. Gone were her trousers and everyday shoes, now she was wearing what, according to the Admiral himself, was a faithful reproduction of the clothes for the female members of the Czar family who hadn't reached physical maturity yet: a long, white dress with a large belt gown, a long line of buttons decorated starting from her chest and moving to the end of the gown, made in pure muslin. That however wouldn't be that bad… if she didn't have to wear a corset under it.
She moved a hand to her waist, feeling the corset downsizing her body: would she have to wear if for the rest of her life? How long would it be before her own organs and bones were 'rearranged'?
"Your majesty!" A small, young man, who according to the Admiral was supposed to be her 'valet', walked inside the room, standing motionless as he waited an order from her. Anya rolled her eyes, as she had to come to accept that this was her life now.
Pros: she would be well-feed and cared for up to the end of her days; she now got to wear expensive clothes worth more that she could have ever made, even if she got a steady job in her old life; she was put on a pedestal with everyone ready to jump at her whim, and she now slept into a bed bigger than her old room.
Cons? Beside the corset (uuuugh, she though as her mind noticed the pain once again), the impossibility to go outside or even leave this building 'for the foreseeable future', the fact that she had now to study lessons on arguments that she felt were ridiculous, or that her life would be the same as a canary trapped in a golden cage? The admiral had painted quite a clear image of what would happen once the Federation got words that she, a surviving member of the royal family they had tried to annihilate, was alive: they would send spies and assassins, they would try to poison her food and drinks, they would try to kill her in her sleep, etc…
"What is it now, Janik?" Anya asked, turned around.
"We have some… documents the Admiral sent to you, saying you should see them, as soon as possible."
Great, more lessons? "What is it? Since I'm technically a monarch-in-exile, and currently my kingdom is confined to this house that the Empire is leasing to us, it can't be state business."
"Actually, they are portraits of member of noble families from all over the Empire, as well as some families of other nations." The boy murmured, in his classic tone of voice, as he was always going to apologize. "The Admiral said you should see everyone of them, and that he hopes to talk about them in his next visit."
"Seriously, is there a reason for this?" Anya chuckled, almost amused by the apparently reasonless gig. "If the Admiral is trying to get more support form the noble families of the Empire-"
"I think the reason why is tied to the survival of the House of Nikolayna. Your survival was a blessing, your highness, almost a miracle."
"I know, the Admiral keep repeating that every time he comes to see me." The girl murmured, looking aside. He was quite a caring and loving grandpa, but sometimes, she felt like they were treating her like a porcelain doll. This was one of the reasons why there was a medic living in the place, ready to assist her if she even got a little scratch.
"Your majesty, in order to assure the survival of your bloodline and preserve the dynasty, sooner or later you'll have to choose a royal consort. And I would like to point out that, of the portraits you received, all of them are of young males close to your age, many of them with detailed references and summaries of their bloodlines."
Anya gasped, her eyes widening as she realized what this whole mess was about. "Wait, are you telling me they are already trying to find me a husband? I'm too young to get married!"
"Even before marrying, princess are usually betrothed with suitable partners long before they come to your current age, your majesty. And it's important to find a partner of good genetics as well as history and fame, to grant you many healthy children to repopulate the dynasty."
"Children?!" Anya yelled, her hand moving to her stomach, as she realized yet another fact: since she was the only descendant of the dynasty, in order to 'repopulate' it…
How many children they expect me to have? The girl said in her mind, her still-developing uterus screaming as they come to realize yet another con of the whole situation.
She moved a hand to her waist, feeling the corset downsizing her body: would she have to wear if for the rest of her life? How long would it be before her own organs and bones were 'rearranged'?
"Your majesty!" A small, young man, who according to the Admiral was supposed to be her 'valet', walked inside the room, standing motionless as he waited an order from her. Anya rolled her eyes, as she had to come to accept that this was her life now.
Pros: she would be well-feed and cared for up to the end of her days; she now got to wear expensive clothes worth more that she could have ever made, even if she got a steady job in her old life; she was put on a pedestal with everyone ready to jump at her whim, and she now slept into a bed bigger than her old room.
Cons? Beside the corset (uuuugh, she though as her mind noticed the pain once again), the impossibility to go outside or even leave this building 'for the foreseeable future', the fact that she had now to study lessons on arguments that she felt were ridiculous, or that her life would be the same as a canary trapped in a golden cage? The admiral had painted quite a clear image of what would happen once the Federation got words that she, a surviving member of the royal family they had tried to annihilate, was alive: they would send spies and assassins, they would try to poison her food and drinks, they would try to kill her in her sleep, etc…
"What is it now, Janik?" Anya asked, turned around.
"We have some… documents the Admiral sent to you, saying you should see them, as soon as possible."
Great, more lessons? "What is it? Since I'm technically a monarch-in-exile, and currently my kingdom is confined to this house that the Empire is leasing to us, it can't be state business."
"Actually, they are portraits of member of noble families from all over the Empire, as well as some families of other nations." The boy murmured, in his classic tone of voice, as he was always going to apologize. "The Admiral said you should see everyone of them, and that he hopes to talk about them in his next visit."
"Seriously, is there a reason for this?" Anya chuckled, almost amused by the apparently reasonless gig. "If the Admiral is trying to get more support form the noble families of the Empire-"
"I think the reason why is tied to the survival of the House of Nikolayna. Your survival was a blessing, your highness, almost a miracle."
"I know, the Admiral keep repeating that every time he comes to see me." The girl murmured, looking aside. He was quite a caring and loving grandpa, but sometimes, she felt like they were treating her like a porcelain doll. This was one of the reasons why there was a medic living in the place, ready to assist her if she even got a little scratch.
"Your majesty, in order to assure the survival of your bloodline and preserve the dynasty, sooner or later you'll have to choose a royal consort. And I would like to point out that, of the portraits you received, all of them are of young males close to your age, many of them with detailed references and summaries of their bloodlines."
Anya gasped, her eyes widening as she realized what this whole mess was about. "Wait, are you telling me they are already trying to find me a husband? I'm too young to get married!"
"Even before marrying, princess are usually betrothed with suitable partners long before they come to your current age, your majesty. And it's important to find a partner of good genetics as well as history and fame, to grant you many healthy children to repopulate the dynasty."
"Children?!" Anya yelled, her hand moving to her stomach, as she realized yet another fact: since she was the only descendant of the dynasty, in order to 'repopulate' it…
How many children they expect me to have? The girl said in her mind, her still-developing uterus screaming as they come to realize yet another con of the whole situation.
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
How would YOU react, if someone told you are actually the last surviving member of a royal family fallen in a Soviet-like Revolution?
NuclearBird
More issues than Reader's Digest
- Location
- Here and There
Well, personally, I would get a bit angry, to put it mildly, at the fact that my near-poverty circumstances were caused by Communists ruining what is essentially an up and coming empire transitioning from feudal repression into industrial autocracy and promptly swear revenge and assume my birthright and proceed to avenge my dead family.
But that's just me and my natural viciousness talking.
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
We have to consider the 'fast industrialization' had a very...high price.
Alexei Serebryakov – ...and this whole rotten structure will come crashing down.
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Alexei Serebryakov – ...and this whole rotten structure will come crashing down.
"Good evening." the lone man said, entering the small place where a couple other men were waiting. "I'm here for the funeral of the old man."
"Did you know him?" One of the other two, a large man with a large beard but no hair, whose muscles clearly told of a life spend pushing his body to the limit in the name of fulfilling and endless, unfair quota set from above.
"Yes, actually, I am one of the heirs."
"In the back." The man laconically nodded, the first man hurrying to walk while the sentinels remained on their places, ready to give an alarm if the NKVD or some spies of theirs would come.
"Alexei, I was worried for you!" Another man wearing classes, wearing a simple worker' uniform, said with ill-concealed joy. "I was starting to fear that pink-haired demon that call herself your superior officer had arrested you and was ripping your teeth apart."
"Yeah, that is quite a scary thought." the mage in disguise chuckled, trying not to show how that idea terrified him. Maybe because he had seen with his own eyes how gory could be the 'methods' of the Secret Police, and thus he knew what would be of him if they ever got the idea that he wasn't loyal to the Federation and the pigs who called themselves its rulers. "Still, I was careful. I even tried to work my way on Chernakova's good graces, to suppress any suspect they could have on me. They can't think I'm a traitor if I play the part of the loyal, zealous underling too well."
"Tell me, were you... forced to sell out other dissidents to do that?"
"Two looters and a killer, hardly the kind of people we want to bring back under the leadership of the Czar's bloodline. As long as we can play our cards right, to send them to the slaughter is acceptable if that means it can help us hide, until the moment we'll be ready to strike."
"Indeed, an acceptable price." The other man nodded, a strange light shining in his eyes. "What news do you bring?"
"We have been reassigned to defend the capital from potential Empire raids." Alexei replied. "I'll reestablish contact as soon as possible, but for the moment I'll have to lay low once again."
"They actually think the Empire can attack Moskva?" The other men said, almost surprised by the Federation leadership's unexpected competency.
"Nah, actually, that's more an half-assed political move: the Party representatives declared that Moskva will never be attacked as long as they are in charge, and thus, what the Federation has in the reserves of air defenses is being redeployed in order to fulfill this promise. Also, there are some rumors that the presence of Commander Chernakova in Moskva has been decided... by the Head of the NKVD."
"Of course it was him!" The man with glasses hissed, his fist contracting with anger. "That pederast can't control his own appetites, not even when his own boss tell him to focus on the war they're going to start! If the Federation government wasn't filled with freaks and degenerates just as bad as him, he would have been executed a long time ago!"
"Anyway, I bring good news: yesterday we got confirmation of three other officers currently detained in a Lageri, as well as several more magically talented individuals, who are willing to join us if we bring them out. Our men are already setting up an escape plan, and we'll set it off at the same time with the rest of the operations."
"That's quite good news, I suppose. The fact that the Federation is so blinded by its need to purge any possible political opposition was a blessing in disguise: otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to recruit so many mages and competent leader to support and coordinate our effort."
"And I brought even better news that you may be interested into: a couple of days ago, a report arrived to the Minister of Economic Production, detailing that all the production quotas set in the Suomi territory will not be fulfilled by the end of the year. According to some sources that I believe are trustworthy, the local population is growing more and more restless, especially thanks to the help they are currently receiving by the Entente. That means that, as soon as the war starts, the Federation will have to fight yet another front."
"The Suomi, huh?" The man thought about it. "As long as the Empire and the Entente support them, I'll say the Federation will not be able to crush them as fast as they wish. By the Winter, the main issue would be how to relation with them: we already have a standing army that was supposed to act in the region."
"You see a problem, but it can become an opportunity." Alexei suggested. "I'm sure you know what I mean."
"Any other news?" The man grumbled, as he caught sight of the giant work he had in front of him.
"The General Secretary Josef Dzhugashvili is preparing another purge. This time, the main targets are the mages."
"Is this man truly born without a brain, or simply so paranoid about his enemies he can't even trust his own allies anymore?" Does he realize that, without mages, his own army will be defenseless and the whole plan for the invasion will be screwed up?
"I guess he simply can't tolerate the idea of any kind of threat to his own empire built in blood and suffering. Still, that is a good news: it means Commanders Degurechaff and König will find no resistance, if the purge happen soon enough."
"Aren't you worried about yourself? You are a mage too, and one of our best agents to date!"
"I have enough ways to know when it will happen to not let myself be caught in surprise." The mage chuckled. "And it could be a good chance to get rid of Chernakova's chains."
"Very well, but still be careful. The Federation has eyes and ears everywhere, the wrong sentence heard by the wrong person could mean the difference between success and a slow, painful death."
"I was raised in such world." Alexei retorted. "Well, I guess I'll have to go now. I can't risk anyone to suspect I actually left the barracks."
"Wait, before you go." another voice said, and an old woman, dressed in what it looked like an old high society dress, even if all worn down and with several patches to keep it together. "Do you have any more news about... your relative? Our upcoming Duchess?"
Alexei shrugged, as he recognized the woman who was barging in their conversation. "Baroness Wylphia, what a surprise. I wasn't expecting you... here." he gave a glance to his collaborator, who simply shrugged.
"I managed to escape the eyes and claws of the Federation for many years already, you think I can't find a small place like this? I am still not over the news you brought to use, when you told us that other members of your family had survived-"
"Baroness, please." The man wearing glasses scoffed. "You know you aren't supposed to be present now. And your business with the supposed heir-"
"Supposed?!" The old woman replied, looking back at him with eyes filled of cold, tranquil fury. "One of the largest, most powerful, and ancient families, related by blood to the Royal family itself, is still alive and you still call the new Duchess a 'supposed heir'?"
"Viktoriya..." Alexei spoke, his heart starting to feel warm as he thought back to the girl he had met during his mission on the Allied Kingdom, on the day that would become the turning point of his life. "is still serving under her commander's unit. That means that, if the war comes, she may be deployed against the Federation's own troops."
"A duchess wearing shorts, carrying a rifle and fighting in first line?" The old Baroness scoffed in turn. "While I can appreciate the idea of contributing to the fall of the Federation's pigs in a direct way, I can't say I am happy to hear this."
"She was trying to survive!" Alexei snapped, unable to contain his emotion one second more. "When her family escaped, after the Federats took over, they didn't have any valuables with them."
"The boy is right; we can't be too much spoiled when we must survive. Or maybe, you have already forgotten the last years of your life, Baroness?"
"I didn't forget, soldier." the woman stuttered, years worthy of humiliations coming back at her. "It's just... we have lost so much, and now that someone we believed it was lost may join us once again, I am quite apprehensive."
"Hey, do I have to remember she is my relative?" Alexei chuckled, the anger he felt a few minutes ago dissipating as he tried to cheer the old woman up. "Why can't I be the heir and thus, the next Duke?"
"You come from the separate tree branch, so you can be a secondary heir at most." The noble-turned-spy gave him a skeptical look. "Moreover, I did ask you already, and you refused."
"I am a soldier; my life is in battle." Alexei shrugged. "Moreover, my main goal is to protect my family, the ones I still have in here and the ones who were lucky enough to escape as soon as the rebels took over, and I don't think I have the skills needed for the job."
"We are digressing!" The man wearing glassed reprimanded both of them, feeling another migraine growing up inside his brain. "Since you're already here, Baroness, I suppose your mission had been successful."
"Of course it was." the old woman replied with a smug expression, Alexei rolling his eyes and letting out a small groan of frustration as she did. "If there is a thing a real noble can do, is to keep faith to their promises. As our cause requested, I made contacts with several representatives of populations who are quite suffering under Moskva's production quota system and their policies of forced collectivism. Many of them confirm that they're willing to supply us in the event of an armed revolt, as long as we can protect them from any retaliation from the Red Army. Moreover, a couple of them, who are placed in the territories boarding with Dakia, have said, that should the Empire-aligned Dakian troops managed to breakthrough the lines of the Federation's armed forces, they would be welcoming them and assist them in counter-guerrilla operations."
"They are willing to let a foreign invading army to march through their territory without doing anything to stop them, in fact, actually welcoming them?!" Alexei was surprised to hear that.
"Many of them have blood ties with Dakia that are significantly older and more important than any possible alliance with the Federation they may have. Moreover, ever since the Federats took over, they have been subjected, just like any other minority in the Federation, to heavy prevarications and injustices who they had to endure in silence, less the NKDV had any reason to 'resettle' them. They are desperate people, young mage, and desperate people are willing to do anything to survive."
"That's for sure." the other man replied, a small smile appearing on his lips. "All considered, they are good news. Our enemy still have a preponderant numerical advantage on us, but many of their troops are currently placed westward, to be used in their upcoming attack on the Empire, and the few decent unit they have left are being used to garrison their main production and population centers. As long as we're able to play our moves after the Empire manage to stop their advance and engage their army, we should be able to progress with our efforts without risk of being crushed."
"To tell the truth, there is some... other news I think you should be warned of."
The baroness and her friend stopped, looking at Alexei with inquisitive looks. Why hadn't he said that earlier?
"Talk."
"As you already know that many people in the Federation are currently...unhappy with living under the Federats' rule." the Serebryakov mage said, still unsure if talk about that or not. "You may already be informed that High Priest had returned to Moskva."
"You lie!" The baroness hissed.
"It's the truth." Alexei retorted, expecting this kind of reaction. "I suppose I can't blame you for not ready to accept it, but why should I give you such a lie if I knew you wouldn't believe me."
The baroness moved to reply, only for the glasses-wearing man to stop her with a movement of his hand. "Tell me, how will you do this?"
"Because I have seen him with my own eyes, and I heard him talk. He's changed from the times he went into exile, he cut his own beard and had visibly gained weight, but it's him. He returned to Moskva but not to fight the Federation's regime. In fact, he said he wanted to assist them."
"He willingly chose to support those murderers?!" The baroness yelped, her hand moving over her heart as she took one step back, unable to bear such shocking revelation. "Has he gone mad?!"
"That's quite a significant setback." the other man replied, grumbling. "Such an important figure who once swore to always oppose the Federation turning around and deciding to join them instead could be a demoralizing hit in our efforts. Though I am still surprised he turned traitor in the first place..."
"That's the same thing I thought as well." Alexei confessed. "Some of my... colleagues, however, were requested for some small task that day and heard enough to tell me. Apparently, the High Priest didn't choose to side with the Federation willingly; in fact, he chose to help them only because, according to him, they are the lesser of two evils."
"The lesser of two evils?" The baroness gasped once again. That was a sentence she had never excepted anyone to say: what could be out there of so evil that a cruel, bloody, sadistic regime as the Federation could be seen as 'the lesser of two evil."
Alexei quickly continued his explanation, answering to the question she didn't dare to ask directly. "Apparently, some time ago, the High Priest ended up having some kind of nightmare, in the place where he used to hide from the Federation. He woke up with a fever, and claims that during his sleep, God came to him and gave him some kind of mission. To uphold the values he gifted to the world... and to destroy two devils whose actions may end up destroying this whole world."
"And what part of 'destroying two devils' would require for him to renegade one of his own vows and seek assistance with the same murderers who killed innocent children and burned the most scared church in Russy?"
"Because apparently, the demons he keeps ranting about are going to attack the Federation." Alexei admitted, stopping one second to see the look of the other two people in the room as they looked at him. "And they're going to fight for the Empire."
"Ok, that has to be one of the most absurd things I've ever heard." the man wearing glasses said, with a strange mix of amusement and despair. "Did he actually tell the Empire is working with Demons?"
"Yes, and as you can guess, no one believes him. Not even those high political pompous idiots of the Federation's government. Still, since he said he was willing to cooperate with them, they believe that to listen to his ramblings might be worth it as long as they can try to use him to sway the populace against the Empire."
"I-I can't believe such a man could break in such a hideous way." The former Baroness commented, covering her face with her hand, a lone tear running down her right cheek. "To be driven mad by a nightmare, and to endanger everything we have built only for-"
"Yes, I am sorry." Alexei replied, genuine bitterness on his voice. "What puzzles me the most, was that the High priest kept repeating the day of when he had such a nightmare. I checked the registers, and the only thing of relevant that happened on that day, was some small border skirmish between the Empire and the Entente, one of the small opening incidents that started the war between the two nations, and that would become international as the Republic joined the Entente. What could have happened on that day?"
The man with glasses thought about it. While he didn't knew much (and his superiors were careful to keep him that way, to avoid the Federation to find out crucial info if he was captured) he knew about those incidents thanks to some newspaper he had managed to collect. Moreover, as Alexei said the day when the High Priest had his nightmare of the demons, he realizes that the 'incident' he was referring to one of the very first incidents of the conflict, when...
...when a couple of warrant officer mages, with light weapons, had actually managed to defeat a whole mage unit of the Entente and kill many enemy mages, all on their own.
He grunted, as painful memories of his past, and of the friends who ended up betraying him, came back to his mind. There were two things Lejba Bronštejn didn't believe. One were revolutions which didn't end up betraying their own principles once they had come into power, and the other was...
...coincidences.
Chapter 213 – Resist and Bite
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Chapter 213 – Resist and Bite
Strategic Headquarters' decision to move both of our battalions closer to the border with the Federation turned out to be appropriate. We had just barely settled in our new base when we started to receive rumors about an 'incident' on the border area between the Empire and our new soon-to-be enemy. We didn't know what exactly had happened, but for our nations, who were building up military strength, it was the spark that started the fire.
And once again, we were back on the frontlines, in a new disastrous war.
The Federation attacked all along the border with preponderant numerical advantage, the Imperial troops barely able to put a limited resistance before retreating. Not that resist would have us any good: in many areas, the Federation had an advantage of twenty soldiers against one of ours.
"Lieutenant!" Tanya said, as she, I and our best officers were gathered in the mess hall. "Report."
"The Federation is... advancing, sirs." The poor soul said, almost trembling, desperately trying to come up with ways to speak without irking us. "Two hours ago, we received reports that our army had to abandon Lientzè, after destroying all the main bridges and connection to prevent the Federation to use them. The 154th Posh Infantry Division and several other auxiliary units had been destroyed. However, all other forces are intact and have managed to successfully redeploy in their assigned area, the civilian evacuation gave us a larger movement freedom than we had hoped for, and... we estimate over 10,000 enemy casualties just in the last hour."
"The loss of any units who could retreat in time or who decided to disobey orders to try and protect their homes was... unavoidable." I said, Tragen and a couple more nodding as they heard me. "Overall, this is good news."
"Good news, sir?" Viktoriya raised her eyebrows, clearly puzzled by my choice of words.
"Any unit that we have managed to pull back can still be used in our future operations," I said, exchanging a knowing glare with Tanya. "Sacrificing them will only hurt us in the longer term. Meanwhile, the enemy just suffered over ten thousand casualties because their current advance wasn't deemed fast enough."
"For once, Oberstleutnant König is right." Tanya spoke, her hands running on the reports. "Did we get an estimate of the enemies forces so far?"
"Approximately three million men, two in the frontline and the rest just behind them, with other 7.000 tanks. However, according to the information we received, many tanks of the Federations are not worthy of such name: they are obsolete, built with insufficient armors and inefficient engines. Many of them don't even have a radio built-in, and they must rely on orders brought by messengers on horseback. This of course heavily limits both their offensive capacity and their ability to coordinate with each other or other units."
I smiled smugly as I heard that. "What about their air force?"
"Nonexistent, sirs!" The man smiled as well, relived to be able to provide such a happy news. "We had some aerial battles on the very first days, but our fighter planes managed to completely annihilate whatever the Federation sent against them and are once again rulers of the skies. Our light bombers and close support fighters carried out several sorties against the Federation ground forces to slow down their advance and give chance to our units to redeploy."
"And the rest of our aerial forces?"
"The 7th, 6th and 13th Air Fleet were successfully moved just before the Federations attacked, and they will launch an overpowering assault on the enemy's line of communication and supplies once ready. Related to this, it seems the Federation is still pouring more and more soldiers in the active combats area, maybe hoping that sending new fresh units to the grinder will allow them to achieve some breakthrough of some kind.
Of course. I mused rolling my eyes, almost amused by our enemy's closed mentality and stupidity. Numbers, numbers, numbers: that's how they fight, that's how they solve any issue. Send more and more soldiers in order to drown your enemy in their bodies, and then kill them when they are depleted.
Unfortunately for them, the Empire knew this was the strategy they would have used and had prepared its battel plans accordingly.
"And... " Tragen raised his hands, the eyes of everyone focusing on him as he did. "What about their mage forces?"
"Nowhere to be seen." The Lieutenant spoke up again. "The only report we have of mage troops used so far are from the Navy, who has currently deployed some battleships as well as the Graf Zeppelin to support some of our strongholds near the coast." He said, not noticing how I almost stuttered once as he pronounced the name of the ship where my old friend and comrade Christel Heider was deployed.
"Looks like our enemy's mages are not being used at this moment." Tanya grinned evilly.
"We have more news, this time coming from to other possible fronts. Southward from us, the Dakians report that there has been no visible movement of Federation units. We can speculate that they want to break through our defenses before forcing our underlings into it. That means that, at least for now, the Dakians have more time to prepare their own offensive."
"Can we trust them?" Some mage said. "I mean, they're the same Dakians that we ended up facing once, and that time-"
"They are ruled by a king of the Emperor's bloodline now!" Tanya hissed, the mage quickly shutting himself up as he realized he was playing with fire. "And their new king worked hard to rework Dakia's industry and army into being somewhat decent. Are you perhaps doubting the will and determination of the Imperial family?!"
"O-of course not! I was just... wondering, sir."
"Well, you don't have to." I interjected, hoping that my worlds would be more than enough to give this unlucky fellow a chance to let Tanya forget about him. "Though I am more curios about the situation at the border with the Entente. If I don't remember wrong, there have been some... incidents in the Suomi region."
"That's another interesting fact, sir. The new Empire-aligned government of the Entente, thanks to some generous loans conceded by the Imperial Central Banks, had managed to rebuild its destroyed army from the scratch, using Imperials equipment and instructors, and thanks to the Federation being focused on us, they have managed to move several divisions up to the border, ready to cross it and move in the Suomi area. Not only the people in such regions are growing more and more suffering of the Federation's rule, but it looks like there aren't any enemy military units up to the former capital."
"The trap is getting ready to unleash, then... " Tanya smiled evilly once again, her fingers over a small map of Europe showcasing the Empire, the Federation and the three main border the latter had. In the center with the Empire, where the fight had already begun, to the north with the Entente and to the south with Dakia. Two nations, once the Empire's enemies, now turned into its underlings after being defeated and crushed.
"Once we attack," she pointed at the small dot that indicated Moskva, the Federation's capital. "it will be a signal to Dakia to start their offensive northward, while the Entente will so the same moving eastward, freeing their brothers of Suomi before marching to the south. The Federation's army, already trapped in the small territory we have left to them in their reckless advance, without modern support vehicles, will be free meals for our air force. With their supplies restrained by our strongholds they won't be able to redeploy as fast as ours did and they'll have no choice but use the reserves they have, giving our comrades the perfect opening to close the noose around them!" She almost licked her lips, imagining the many soldiers who would be trapped in that small territory, with no choice but surrender, or dying.
"And once that happens," I nodded, ready to remind her that I wasn't her second-in-command. "we have new cards and resources to turn this war against the Federation and collapse them for good."
"Sirs, not that I'm actually fearful for our mission," Tragen scratched the back of his head, "But, if the few mage units of the Federation are being gathered at their capital, doesn't that mean we will end up meeting again that girly? The... Super-Commissar brat?"
"Her?" Tanya said, before starting to laugh, her laugh so cold and devoid of positive emotions that many mages instinctively took a step back. "She is good, that I can say... but I'm worse. And you are my soldiers; your training guarantees you'll be able to come out of every danger or destroy every enemy we may end up facing. Let her and her underlings come if she has the guts. It spares us the time to look for her!"
"Oberstleutnant, sirs!" Someone knocked on the door, his voice and mannered manners foretelling it wasn't a soldier. "May I enter-"
"Oh, it's him," Tanya said almost rolling her eyes, a small chuckle running among the mages. "Enter, Dr. Arneth."
The scientist in charge of our current scientific team opened the door and walked inside. Like every day since we had met him, he wore the white coat above the light uniform that the Empire had provided for him and every member of his team. Since their contribution was essential to make the V1 work, we had our orders that in the event of an enemy attack, or something bad should happen to our current base of operations, we were to protect them and assist them in priority evacuation.
It wasn't lucky for Schugel that he wasn't here himself: otherwise, an 'incident' might have happened, and the Empire would have to select a new Head Scientist.
"So, are the V1s fully refueled and ready for launch?" Tanya asked, noticing how the poor soul was still being silent. For a moment, I pitied him: living his life among so many uniforms, yet bearing no rank of his own, he had always been subjected to many kinds of humiliations.
"Yes, Oberstleutnant. We finished running the last checks, and just in time, as it seems." He replied, an unfamiliar grin blossoming on his lips, my eyes widening as I realized the meaning of those words.
"Did... the message arrive?"
"Barbarossa, sir." He spoke, repeating the word that ironically, had been chosen as the codeword to indicate our mission was to be carried out in the next 24 hours. "I already instructed my team to start calculating the flight path for the V1 and the angle of launch."
"Very well!" I nodded, my military mind taking over my confusion as a new list of orders began to appear in my mind, turning to the other mages. "Warn your respective mages to prepare themselves for the mission, take notes of those who want to make last wills or letters for their families, and give them a ration of ice cream after today's chow."
"Hey!" Tanya interjected, looking at me with angry eyes, "You can give orders to your soldiers, but not mine!"
"Then you give them the orders. I replied with nonchalance, before turning away, "Tragen, I need to talk with you on my office. Would you follow me?"
"Oh-of course, sir!"
We left, and so did the other mages of my battalion, ignoring Tanya still screaming at me from behind. I had learned from a long time that ignoring her was much more powerful than try to answer to every harsh word she kept throwing to me every day: to treat like as the insignificant, loud yet meaningless creature that she was.
To negate her the attention she lived off, and the pleasure she got from hurting and insulting the others, treating them as mere numbers and resources, rather than like people.
Being X may be an enemy of both of us, but it's the main enemy only in your list. In mine? A close second... I thought once I left the room, Tragen and I walking to my office.
You are my primary enemy.
"So…" someone said, spoking through the communications. Even as we were currently being stored inside the v1, we still had some time before the launch sequence would start, and thus, many mages were engaging in free chat. Even as Tanya and I didn't' particularly liked it, we both allowed it, if it was carefree and helped to distract them from the dangerous mission that we had in front of us. "Does anyone have hopes for when this will be over?"
"If the plan goes as it should, this new war should be over by the next Christmas." another one replied. "At least, as long as something doesn't happen... "
"We are soldiers. No plan ever survives the first contact with the enemy."
"Aye-aye."
"You know, I am still baffled that we are once again in the middle of a war. It seems just like yesterday that the Republic had fallen, and their fleet destroyed. We barely get any break!"
"Back to the frontlines like normal, to fight the battles no one else can fight, with no sleep or fire to keep us warm." A female voice, that I recognized being Viktoriya's nodded. "At least, this time I fully know what we are going to end up against."
"Extremely difficult battles, little pay." I spoke as well, recalling every promise Tanya and I had written on that paper, in our ultimately-failed attempt to scare as many mages as possible. "Spend your days in combat and unfathomable danger. If you return alive, you will receive honor and glory. We DID warn you, you forgot?" I almost chuckled, laughing at my own misfortune and how such words had turned out to be prophetic.
"Those are the words in the recruitment poster, right?" Tragen laughed as well. "And they turned out to be all true. I guess we can be only proud to serve under you sir: you never lied to us."
"No, we didn't." Tanya spoke, everyone else shutting up as they heard her voice, "Everyone, I know how are you feeling. We went from a war to another, and we were ripped from the laurels we had so rightfully conquered by the scheming machinations of a new enemy. What's worse, is that what happened, could have happened a long time ago, if the Republican's fleet wasn't sunk in a storm as he tried to ferry the last leaders of the Republic in Africa, where they planned to keep resisting and bite. Their plan failed, and the Republic now won't ever be a menace for the Empire ever again, and yet, new enemies have arisen to take its place. But this is our job, so we don't have much of a choice. We must follow our orders and strike at the very heart of our enemies, to show them what the price for their trickery will be. True, our new enemy is unlike anything we have faced before, they hold so many men and resources, we may as well be at war with the whole world. And this is why I want to say once more... "
Huh? I though as I noticed Tanya was somehow deviating by her usual tone. What was she trying to say?
"If there is a God who rules this world…" Tanya continued, my heart skipping a beat as I heard that, her voice starting to sound more and more like a gospel. "…it is a stern, solemn, and infinitely good being. A being that is far too great... God keeps forcing us to confront these cruel fates. As if those were the rules of this world. Thus, I want to say: Oh, God..."
My mind rushed, as I tried to understand what was going on. Did Being X finally managed to crack Tanya? Had it brainwashed her? Was this going to happen me as well?
"I'll slice you into tiny pieces and feed you to the pigs!" Tanya yelled through the communications, a small gasp of shock echoing from the other mages as they heard such blasphemous words. "Our battlefield is no place for that piece of shit God! I think it's time we took over God's work. We soldiers will take God's place. Put that arrogant ass, God, out of a job!"
I smiled, for once being happy that Tanya had managed to trick me for a second, before taking over. "You hear these words, soldiers? Gone are the times of belief and destiny, when people simply walked to their slaughter like sheep because they thought it was their destiny to be. We won't accept any destiny, for our future is of our only doing!" I pushed on, trying to push on their pride. "For we weren't the ones to start this war, just like in our previous one. But by the Emperor's will and the power of our magic, if we will be the ones to end it... it will be the last one! For there won't be anyone else left to challenge us ever again! Tonight, we will remind the world what being a mage of the Empire means. Tonight, we take our fight to the city of Moskva, the heart of the Federation!" I stopped for a second, giving time for everyone to cheer at my words before continuing. "For centuries, many conquerors and armies have attempted to take that city, their rotten bodies feeding the lands around it. But that won't be our fate! Tonight, the Empire will show to the Federation, and to the world, its full power, a power that will sweep any resistance before it! Tonight, we will burn Moskva to the ground!"
"All right, troops... It is time for war!"
The troops cheered again, as my determination returned back to its full strength. To Moskva... and to strike a lethal blow to our enemy, not the Federation, but Being X itself...
SanguisAnima
Σ Series Z10/0 Group A 4A-GELU Mk1
- Location
- nowhere important
It ain't no inconvenience, Real Life has to come first. Do what you need to, then after you got all of them done, you can then go back to wrestling your muse to cooperate (read: get back into the writing mindset). Don't worry about us, well keep.
Oh Moscow will see the next Napoleon. I'm pretty sure Moscow burned during that invasion IDK though
Chapter 214 – Marching Regiments
Trunko
Dissatisfied writer
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Chapter 214 – Marching Regiments
"Landing operation successfully completed, sir!" Tragen announced. "The battalion is assembled, all squads intact."
"Very well!" I nodded, checking our surrounding areas with my binoculars. "What about the Federation's reaction?"
"None so far! By the Emperor, if we weren't at war, I would believe no one noticed we are here!"
"Maybe they really don't." I looked around, noticing a few abandoned settlements with no sign of recent human life. "News of the 203rd battalion?"
"They made radio contact with us a few minutes ago, sir!" Our communication officer replied. "They say their V1s overshot and ended a few kilometers east of their planned landing zone, north of the enemy's capital. Should we tell them to reunite with us before launching the attack?"
"No." I replied laconically. "We have our orders. Transmit to Oberstleutnant Degurechaff to attack Moskva from the north while we move from the south in a pincer manouver."
"Yes sir!"
"So, this is the Federation, huh?" Tragen looked around, clearly noticing how bleak and abandoned the landscape around us looked. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
"Were you perhaps hoping for a haven full of greenery?"
"Of course not!" Tragen replied, looking at Squad Commander Baumer with an irked expression. "To tell you the truth, this bleak sorry excuse for a countryside is exactly what I was expecting with godless, murderous people like the Federats. I feel sorry for the poor people who had to endure years of tyranny and being spied day and night-"
"Then, I guess it is time for some old-style revenge, don't you agree?" I replied, facing the various squad commander. "We'll proceed toward the enemy's capital and test the enemy's air defenses. First Squad, your objective is the Secret Police's headquarters. The Federation takes pride in having one of the best instruments to control and oppress their own population: I want that reduced to ashes, you get me?!"
"Yes sir!"
"Second Squad and Third Squad, your objectives are the main factories of the Federation and their most important communication points. Moskva is one of the main industrial poles of the Federation; destroying them would inflict a heavy blow to their productive power and heavily damage both their supply lines and their offensive ability."
"Yes sir!"
"All other squads, you have all your objectives. Our main goal is to damage the Federation's pride and humiliate them, so to simply destroy some buildings is not enough. Remember, it must be a show!"
"Sir, if we are allowed to ask," one of the mages asked with a confused expression. "what do you mean with that?"
"You'll find out." I replied with an evil smirk, all units following me as we flew unopposed in the Federation's sky, toward the very den of pour enemies, ready to bring fire and destruction upon them…
(…)
Moskva, once where it was the Imperial Winter Palace, now the capital of the Federation, a government of hypocritical murderers and criminals who, behind a doctrine of redistribution of wealth and abolition of all social barriers, had simply replaced the previous government with their own, and who now ruled over all the land with ruthless methods. If you raised your voice at the wrong time, if someone heard you say something that could be seen as incriminating, or even if they suspected you, either for real or just for their own convenience, you could be sent to a concentration camp in Siberia, or locked up in one of the secret police prisons, or be tortured and then killed, almost always forced to make a list of names that the secret police would then use as a knife.
"It's time to show these pigs what it means to defy the Empire." I said with ill-concealed satisfaction. "All units in position?"
"Yes, sir!" Each NCO's voice came to me from my communicator.
"Very well, time to start... the dance..."
I gripped my rifle tightly, the magical energy flowing through me as the words I had learned to hate and despise began to come out of my mouth.
"Oh Lord, blessed be you for being our weapon. Bless you, Oh Lord, for the slaughter of our enemies. For allowing us to fight against our enemies and give us the blessed victory! For enabling us to take our positions, stand still, and massacre our enemy in thy name!"
I felt my powerful prayer-powered magic activate once again, the glowing on his rifle telling me that my eyes were turning gold once again, as I took aim to one of the ugly copy of the Cremlin.
"Righteous Lord, we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers, and evil spirits in the heavenly places. Today we dress ourselves in your armor, so that we will be able to stand firm against all strategies of evil. We will stand our ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of Lord's righteousness."
The rifle began to glow as well, more and more magic accumulating in my bullet with every passing second. I smirked, realizing the ensuing explosion would be VERY loud and volatile.
"Being fully prepared, and hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. We put on salvation as our helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of our Lord. We will always pray in the Spirit and on every occasion, staying alert and being persistent in our prayers for all believers everywhere. We stand firm against every demonic attack or aggression!"
The glow became brighter, as I looked at my objective with a glare full of hate. For once, I hoped Being X didn't care too much on who I was going to gut: after all, the Federations hated all forms of religions. Even so, giving how much obsessed he was with both me and Tanya, I wouldn't put outside his means to twist the religions to serve this pigs if in the end, it would allow him to defeat us.
If.
"No weapon that will be used against us will succeed! We'll silence every voice raised to accuse us, for the Lord is our vindicator. The thief may come to steal, kill, and destroy, but the promise of our Lord will dispense Justice and Judgement on those who face us. Let every enemy that stands against you to destroyed, in the name and power…of the Lord!"
"Mages of the Empire, fire!" I shouted at full lungs, at the same time my fingers moved to press the trigger, and once again, the combined power of our magic-powered bullet, blasted from the barrels of our guns, flew onto our enemies, and as they made contact with the harsh surface of the buildings they exploded, eviscerating the very heart of the Federation in many powerful explosions.
The Kremlin-expy was the target of mine, and my squad's, and as soon as our bullet hit it exploded into a massive blast of fire, the largest tower in the middle falling aside and crumbling a smaller one. Meanwhile, all under us, many more explosions rocket the city, every explosion signaling a large building hit by our explosive spells and suffer heavy damage, the Federation officers and bureaucrats inside barely having the time to realize they were under attack before being killed, those who were lucky enough try to run.
"Sir, we've managed to completely destroy Moscow Plaza!"
"We've just reduced that ugly bronze statue in rubble!"
"Good. Proceed with the operations but be wary!" I recommended them, still nervously looking around as we waited for the Federation's response to kick in. "We have not seen the Federation's mages yet!"
"New explosions in the southern sectors!" Tragen's voice shouted, pointing at new column of smoke and explosions in the distance. "Looks like the 203rd has joined the party!"
"Perfect!" I grinned. "All units, pincer maneuver! Don't let anything survive: let's trample the Federation and turns their capital in ashes!"
"Yes sir!"
We kept moving, we kept shouting, more and more of the enemy's capital city being destroyed as we did, no anti-air artillery attempting to stop us, nor Federation mages attempting to intercept our attacks. Where are their air defenses? I thought as I struggled to keep my own worry on check, Even Dakia hadn't been this defenseless!
"Commander, we are receiving new information form the 203rd Battalion. Looks like we have managed to catch the enemy mages with their pants down: Commander Degurechaff reports they've managed to hit their own base and they're currently keeping suppression fire on them, to stop them from organizing themselves against us."
"Ask Commander Degurechaff if they need reinforcements to vanquish them." I asked. "The sooner we silence the enemy's chance for a counterattack, the more time we have to achieve our objectives."
"Actually, sir, we are hearing some… uncertain info. Looks like a volunteer force had been deployed near the city."
"A volunteer force?!" I asked, suddenly feeling a cold chill running through my bones. The last time Tanya and I had come face to face with international volunteers had been on the Allied Kingdom, where we ended up meeting a couple of them in that high society ball. And where we both met… Miss Sue.
Come on, Frederick, get a hold of yourself! I yelled internally to myself. How many chances are there that you'll meet her again in this snow-covered, frozen hellscape? Especially after the whole diplomatic disaster she caused back in Londinium…
And yet, why I kept feeling dread in my guts?
"What kind of volunteer force?" I asked, trying not to show my nervousness.
"An international force of multinational volunteers, the 42nd Flying Division, at least from what I've been able to learn. So far they do not appear to be preparing to engage us, but we've managed to locate their base. I request permission to launch a preventive raid to annihilate the menace!"
"Request denied!" I replied, trying to make my voice as clear as possible to avoid misunderstandings. "They are international volunteers, and while they may feel legitimate rancor toward the Empire and us, their presence here probably hints they're supposed to play a peacekeeping force, or observers. I doubt they will attack us without proper clearance…unless we attack them first. Then, their actions could be painted as self-defense, understood?"
Observers or not, it was still a division, while Tanya and mine units were both battalions.
"B-but sir-"
"Enough!" I reprimanded my subordinate through the communication device, the tone of my voice clearly meaning that my orders had no room for discussion. "You and the rest of your units focus on your assigned objectives. You're allowed to defend yourself if the volunteers attack us, but until then just limit yourself to watch them and be on guard for the Federation's mages. They are our real enemy."
"Y-yes sir." the poor man nodded, prompting me to change my tone to reassure him.
"Look it this way: if they end up attacking us, we can use this incident to justify further actions toward us. And for our propaganda offices, an unwarranted attack from a force of international observers that we deliberately refused to attack until they did would be the best fact to show off in front of our enemies, in Europe and all over the world!"
"Understood, sir!"
"Then, let's focus back on our mission, shall we?" I said with an unholy glee. "Let's show to these arrogant bastards what's the price for messing with the Empire!"
The sufferings, the pain, the screams of the dying ones, of families broken, of crying children… it has been a long time since I had such a feast, young one. The voice of a familiar skeleton sounded on my head.
The attack continued for several minutes, our units moving in coordination destroying every important Federation monument, factory or building within the city walls, unleashing terror among the population and preventing them from regrouping. When one of our observers reported that the Federation soldiers were trying to make use of their anti-aircraft batteries, I sent Tragen and a small group to smash their artillery pieces to smithereens.
Our real concern, however, was not their traditional anti-aircraft defenses but their mage forces. We had been informed that the Federation had left its mages to defend the capital, so... where were they?
With no answer to these questions, our goal was to try to achieve the intended results before the Federation's reaction showed up. And the destruction of the enemy's monuments and communication and command centers was only part of what we had to do.
"Frederick." Tanya's voice echoed in my communicator. "We are done here. How's progress going with you?"
"We are on schedule, Tanya." I replied, hearing the voice of Elsie as yet another Secret Police building was blown up. "I have some hot-blooded fellows here, but nothing to be worried about."
"Take this, you godless murderers! And this! And this!"
"Not too worried, at least."
"Good. I think it is time to make our little announcement… now."
I smiled, as I realized what she was referring to. "Let's proceed then. Men, defensive position!"
The mage under my command quickly gathered into a two-layer defensive position all over the ruins of what was once, the most famous monument of the city, and the one and only seat of power of its communist leaders.
Ready, to remind to these pigs who really was the ruler of this land.
"Attention, residents of the Federation." Tanya spoke loudly through her communicator in Cyrillic, so the people under us would understand what we were saying. "My name is Oberstleutnant Tanya Degurechaff, commander of the 203rd Mage Battallion of the Imperial Army."
"And I am Oberstleutnant Frederick Konig, commander of the 205th Battalion. And to the people of Moskva, who have long suffered under the cruel fist of the Federation's government…we have something to say."
I turned around and looked at Viktoriya, the young mage walking forward as I nodded, Tragen and a couple more of mages just behind them, all four carrying a large flagpole rolled on the side, other mages starting to blast the music we have carried with us for all the mission.
And then, Viktoriya pressed the flagpole on the ruins and secured it, the large banner of the former Russy Empire unveiled for everyone to see, as we began to sing a song that the Federation had forbidden a long time ago, and yet, many people who had lived before their 'Revolution' still remembered.
"Маршируют полки." Viktoriya sang, the words that came out of her mouth sounding much more natural than anyone of us could ever reach. For while all of us had to learn the language little by little, she had been born and raised on it. "Ногу держат стрелки, Эскадроны проходят, гарцуя, Батареи глядят, За отрядом отряд Лентой тянутся в даль голубую."
The music and banner were a plan devised a long time ago, but with the Imperial Anthem and the Imperial flag. It was after the Strategic HQ realized the potential of show the banner and play the music of the counterrevolutionary forces that it was changed.
"Кто вы? - Русские мы!
Сколько вас? - Тьма и тьмы!
Все народы Руси, племена
Со всех мест и границ,
Сел, аулов, станиц
Собрались под родные знамена.
Со всех мест и границ,
Сел, аулов, станиц
Собрались под родные знамена."
Сколько вас? - Тьма и тьмы!
Все народы Руси, племена
Со всех мест и границ,
Сел, аулов, станиц
Собрались под родные знамена.
Со всех мест и границ,
Сел, аулов, станиц
Собрались под родные знамена."
Gosh, I wish I could be able to see the reaction the Admiral will have once the recording of this will be shown… I mused for a second. Sometimes, I wished to be a fly only for the chance to see what some reactions would be.
"Вы куда? – Мы туда!
Нас Россия зовет,
Нас зовет ее прежняя слава!
Нас зовет дух отцов,
Память старых бойцов,
Дух Москвы и твердыня Полтавы."
Нас Россия зовет,
Нас зовет ее прежняя слава!
Нас зовет дух отцов,
Память старых бойцов,
Дух Москвы и твердыня Полтавы."
A tear ran down Viktoriya's cheek, and I quickly noticed. What was she thinking? Was she feeling happiness for once again being able to fight under the banner of her people? Was it commotion, for we had started the path to free her land from the pigs that forced her family to exile or misery? Was it something else?
"Кто наш враг? – Всякий тот,
Кто нам цепи кует,
Посягает на наши святыни.
Все пойдем, как один,
Победим иль умрем,
Как всегда это было доныне."
Кто нам цепи кует,
Посягает на наши святыни.
Все пойдем, как один,
Победим иль умрем,
Как всегда это было доныне."
Under us, I could see several people stopping to run and look up, recognizing the song and the banner, the People Commissars and the Police, as well as everyone who was filled with the Federal's propaganda, shouting at them not to look and denouncing us as the tyrants that they already overthrew once, but by now, the damage was done.
The federation had been humiliated, unable to defend their own capital, their most iconic buildings and monuments being reduced to rubble, while the flag of their old enemies stood high and proud in the city center, many voices singing at once, almost like a prophecy preannouncing the return of the Czar and its family.
A couple of days at most, and Grand Admiral Kolčakyv's Army would have joined the Empire just as the Imperial Army would have launched several counterattacks at once, trapping most of the Federation Army in large sacs to be destroyed to the last man. And with then, the door of the Federation would have been kicked open.
"Sirs!" One of the mages of the 203rd Battalion shouted at once, barely a minute after the song had ended. "The Federation mages, they're here!"
Finally, I thought, almost comforted to see them appear at last. "How many?!"
"A battalion, or more!" The man replied, Tanya and I quickly grabbing our binoculars to witness the situation with our own eyes.
"Wait, are those-"
"The International Volunteers are rushing toward us too! They are attacking us as well!"
They are attacking us without provocation, I though as I moved my binocular to see them, noticing the mages in blue uniforms advancing on the opposite direction. And on their very spearhead, leading the assault-
…hello again, Miss Sue. I smiled bitterly.
- Location
- canada
Oh boy, I do so love unprovoked attacks! More propaganda material for the PR machine to use.
I can see it now: 'An unprovoked attack from a multi-nation International Volunteer unit struck our honorably justified forces in the process of righteously restoring monarchy to a beleaguered nation. Is this the sign of more enemies across the ocean? Is the Empire beset by yet another potential war? When will our glorious nation have it's peace? How many unjustified attacks must our innocent citizens suffer from seemingly jealous and envious nations seeking to harm us? Please go to page ## for more details.'
I can see it now: 'An unprovoked attack from a multi-nation International Volunteer unit struck our honorably justified forces in the process of righteously restoring monarchy to a beleaguered nation. Is this the sign of more enemies across the ocean? Is the Empire beset by yet another potential war? When will our glorious nation have it's peace? How many unjustified attacks must our innocent citizens suffer from seemingly jealous and envious nations seeking to harm us? Please go to page ## for more details.'